Tag Archives: Orlando Wetlands

Blue-winged Teals

Despite the green patch seen in the middle duck here, these are Blue-winged Teals.

Blue-winged Teals
Blue-winged Teals

A slight shift of the wing and you can see just the powder blue patch, and the more distinctive white patch on the male’s head.

Blue-winged Teals
Blue-winged Teals

This trio had all been either feeding or bathing.

Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal

A good shake put the feathers to rights.

Blue-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Orlando Wetlands Park is 1650 acres of man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, More Sedate

Just a short distance from the Black-bellied Whistling Duck Kerfuffle that I posted last week a few small groups were calmly hanging out.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

This floating mat of vegetation was solid enough to hold up the ducks but there was water around their feet.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

This fellow was doing his own thing, sort of hiding in some taller grass.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

In this group, one duck was on high alert, one was sort of alert and the rest were snoozing.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Orlando Wetlands Park is 1650 acres of man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks Flying By

In flight the Black-bellied Whistling Duck shows off a snazzy wing pattern.

Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks

This one opted to leave the pack and head off on his own for a bit…

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

showing off that bright bill, which will look more pink in breeding season.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck In Flight
Black-bellied Whistling Duck In Flight

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Orlando Wetlands Park is 1650 acres of man-made wetland designed to provide advanced treatment for reclaimed water from the City of Orlando and other local cities.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck Kerfuffle

Several groups of 10-20 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks were scattered around the first pond at Orlando Wetlands. Most of them were resting or quietly feeding. Then there was this group.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck – cowabunga!

They were creating quite a flap, one or two flying straight up a few feet then wham, dropping into the middle of the group.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

It seems too early in the year to be a breeding/territory thing. And there appeared to be plenty of food to go around.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

A couple of Coots were unperturbed by the action.

Black-bellied Whistling Duck
Black-bellied Whistling Duck

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Sandhill Crane Flyby, And a Caracara

I heard him coming…Sandhill Cranes are really loud.

From Cornell’s All About Birds:

“a loud rolling, trumpeting sound whose unique tone is a product of anatomy: Sandhill Cranes have long tracheas (windpipes) that coil into the sternum and help the sound develop a lower pitch and harmonics that add richness.”

Sandhill Crane Flying By
Sandhill Crane Flying By

And he flew right on by.

Sandhill Crane Flying By
Sandhill Crane Flying By

I could hardly make a post of this last, far off photo, but I was pretty amazed to see a Crested Caracara fly by just a few minutes before the Crane.

Crested Caracara Flying By
Crested Caracara Flying By

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Purple Gallinule Runway

I thought I would be leaving Orlando Wetlands without seeing a Purple Gallinule, but finally spotted one out in the open, poking through the floating vegetation.

Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule Walking On Pond Vegetation

A half hour later another one, a bit closer, presented me with a reflection opportunity.

Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule

And then, wow–he was on the run showing off those massive feet and toes…

Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule

…and their ability to spring into the air.

Purple Gallinule
Purple Gallinule

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023

Great Blue Heron Flying By

A Great Blue Heron starting to show some of the colored lures around his eye of breeding season was on a mission to gather sticks for his nest.

Great Blue Heron Flying By
Great Blue Heron Flying By

He went at a steady pace past some Coots.

Great Blue Heron Flying Over Coots
Great Blue Heron Flying Over Coots

Then he veered just a little before he turned away from me on his mission.

Great Blue Heron Flying Over Coots
Great Blue Heron Flying By, Palm Tree Trunks Reflected in Water

Orlando Wetlands, Christmas, FL
January 18, 2023